Influence of socio-technical networks on the diversity of cacao agroforestry systems in northeastern Pará, Brazil.

This article analyses the diversity of cacao agroforestry systems (CAFS) by examining the socio-technical networks associated with environmental restoration and cacao cultivation in the municipalities of Tomé-Açu and Irituia, in northeastern Pará. Fieldwork was carried out through semi-structured interviews with smallholder farmers, enabling the development of an empirical typology of CAFS. Three types of CAFS were identified: Group 1, characterised as “market-oriented CAFS”; Group 2, as “food sovereignty CAFS”; and Group 3, as “syntropic CAFS”. They are part of two main networks: an institutional network in Tomé-Açu, focused on increasing cacao yields through intensification, and an agroecological network, predominantly in Irituia, linked to cooperatives and local associations. Group 1, as part of the institutional network, employs intensive agricultural techniques. The second and third groups, within the agroecological network, adopt alternative strategies: Group 2 emphasises crop diversification and integration into certified markets, while Group 3 focuses on syntropic agriculture to regenerate degraded land. The study concludes that connecting these networks could facilitate the exchange of knowledge and practices, contributing to more resilient andsustainable production systems.